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I hope you can find it in your heart to help Grecia, my pro bono client, as she seeks asylum here in the United States.
Grecia is a 23 year old transgender woman from El Salvador. She was kicked out of home by her mother when she was only 12 because her mother could not accept her gender identity. Then she was forced into prostitution at age 15 by a street gang, on the threat that they would kill her little sister if she did not comply. She endured this situation for years. In addition to the nightly rapes Grecia suffered at the hands of paying "customers," she was kidnapped and gang raped by 8 men and, as a consequence, contracted HIV. Because of her transgender status and the power of the gangs, help from the police was not possible.
Grecia fled El Salvador, but the gang tracked her down in Mexico and again threatened her little sister if she did not return and do the gang's bidding -- this time as a drug courier. But she did not give in, and she made her way to the U.S. border where she made a request for asylum.
The U.S. asylum officer found that Grecia had a credible case for asylum. She was taken into detention, as per the usual procedure, pending a final asylum hearing. My colleague Jared and I are representing her in the asylum proceedings. We recently persuaded the judge to release her from detention on bail.
Here's where you come in. Although she has been released on bail, Grecia has no friends or family in the U.S., and she will not be allowed to apply for a work permit until later this year. She needs shelter and food until she is legally permitted to support herself.
I have housing arranged for the first month, but after that things are less certain. If we can raise $6,000, this should be enough to cover basic expenses (including renting a basic room, getting her some clothes, etc.) until Grecia is allowed to start working.
Grecia has been through hell. The US offers her a chance at a new life. If you can pitch in any amount, I would be very grateful and Grecia will be even more so.
Thank you, friends, for considering this request.
Grecia is a 23 year old transgender woman from El Salvador. She was kicked out of home by her mother when she was only 12 because her mother could not accept her gender identity. Then she was forced into prostitution at age 15 by a street gang, on the threat that they would kill her little sister if she did not comply. She endured this situation for years. In addition to the nightly rapes Grecia suffered at the hands of paying "customers," she was kidnapped and gang raped by 8 men and, as a consequence, contracted HIV. Because of her transgender status and the power of the gangs, help from the police was not possible.
Grecia fled El Salvador, but the gang tracked her down in Mexico and again threatened her little sister if she did not return and do the gang's bidding -- this time as a drug courier. But she did not give in, and she made her way to the U.S. border where she made a request for asylum.
The U.S. asylum officer found that Grecia had a credible case for asylum. She was taken into detention, as per the usual procedure, pending a final asylum hearing. My colleague Jared and I are representing her in the asylum proceedings. We recently persuaded the judge to release her from detention on bail.
Here's where you come in. Although she has been released on bail, Grecia has no friends or family in the U.S., and she will not be allowed to apply for a work permit until later this year. She needs shelter and food until she is legally permitted to support herself.
I have housing arranged for the first month, but after that things are less certain. If we can raise $6,000, this should be enough to cover basic expenses (including renting a basic room, getting her some clothes, etc.) until Grecia is allowed to start working.
Grecia has been through hell. The US offers her a chance at a new life. If you can pitch in any amount, I would be very grateful and Grecia will be even more so.
Thank you, friends, for considering this request.